6 Little Known Facts About Adult Orthodontics

Adults tend to shy away from the orthodontist’s office. But why? They must not realize that plenty of adults are choosing to go through with orthodontic treatment these days, more so since the invention of invisible aligners.

People still think that metal braces are just for kids or teens- but that is not the case anymore. Be sure to schedule an appointment with us, if you want to achieve a straighter smile as an adult.

These 6 little known facts about orthodontics should help inspire you!

1. There is No Age Limit

No matter your age, you can still go through orthodontics treatment! Orthodontic experts have been developing the technology and science behind these treatments for many, many years- they have gotten to the point where anyone can effectively straighten their teeth now.

There is absolutely no age limit when it comes to correcting your smile. We can help you whether you are 20 or 90- plus, anywhere in between! Treatment plans that include Invisalign braces are becoming more popular than metal braces for adults, due to their ability to adjust your bite while being discrete.

In short, do not miss out on treatment now because you think you passed the age limit. There is no set window in which you can fix your teeth, we would love to hear from you about setting up an appointment.

2. Adult Orthodontics is Not Painful

Another reason you may have put off treatment is that you believe it is more painful for adults than kids. However, this is not true.

Adult orthodontics is not painful, although you will experience discomfort for the first few days after getting them put on. The discomfort is not constant, which is what most people falsely believe to be the case.

The metal braces of today are designed with technology that can reduce discomfort and also reduce the amount of time treatment takes. These advances in technology are being made further every day, so you can be sure that your adult orthodontics treatment plan will be efficient and convenient for you.

3. You are Not Alone in Treatment as an Adult

Being an adult that needs to wear braces might make you feel alone. However, more adults are wearing them than you might realize.

The American Association of Orthodontics reported that one in five orthodontic patients is an adult- way more than you might expect. This is because many adults prefer invisible aligners over metal braces, making them much harder to spot.

An orthodontic expert can help you determine if Invisalign braces are right for you. If you want treatment without needing to change your diet, worrying about wires, or just want something that does not make you stand out- then clear aligners would be something that you want to look into.

4. That Weird Kissing Myth is False

As an adult, you might be worried that getting braces is going to make kissing awkward. Do you remember hearing that myth about people getting their braces tangled together while kissing when you were younger?

Well, it might help ease your mind to know that braces can not get locked together while kissing- a relief off many people’s minds! You will not have to worry about your braces getting tangled up with your partner.

Kissing with metal braces does require you to adjust, but it is not impossible or inconvenient. Once you get used to wearing them, you will not even notice them after too long.

5. People Have always had Crooked Teeth

As long as people have been around, they have been having problems with their teeth. Archeologists have found crooked teeth in the skulls of Neanderthal men. But, later in history, people started coming up with ways to correct their bites.

While not nearly as advanced as orthodontics today, Egyptian mummies have been discovered with metal braces on their teeth. Then in 400 B.C., Hippocrates would document misaligned teeth and jaws in his writings.

In 1728, a French dentist named Pierre Fauchard wrote about an orthodontic treatment in his book. It included information about a tool called a “bandeau”, which was a piece of metal tied to teeth that slowly aligned them- much like today’s orthodontic treatments.

If you feel out of place with your crooked teeth, just remember that people have always struggled with correcting their smiles. Plus, adult orthodontics has evolved past tying metal bands around teeth- the technology is designed to be more comfortable for you now.

6. It Will not Take Years to Complete

Some adults are put off braces because they believe that they will need to wear them for many years. Any orthodontic expert can tell you that they do not take that long.

Specialists have access to technology that allows them to plan out the route your tooth will move during treatment- enabling them to find efficient plans to make the treatment faster. Plus, invisible aligners can move the teeth more effectively, as they can give the orthodontic experts more control over how much force is applied to your teeth.

In short, you can expect orthodontic treatment to take around 12 to 24 months- not quite the 5 or 6 years some adults imagine it would take to complete.

Conclusion

Orthodontic treatment, whether you choose clear aligners or traditional braces, are not just for kids and teenagers. There are plenty of adults who need to wear braces nowadays. Once you get used to having them on, you will seldom notice them.

If you are worried about other adults noticing the wires in your mouth, we do have Invisalign options. In fact, many of our adult patients tend to prefer them over the traditional braces because of how hidden they are.

Do not be afraid to schedule an appointment with us to find out if adult orthodontics is right for you! We would love to hear from you and help set up a treatment plan to get you started on your journey to straighter teeth.